June 15-17, Quiet Oaks Campground - Cross Fork, PA

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Smoked Country Jam is a 3-day, family-friendly event bringing together performers from all branches of the bluegrass tree.

Whether the music is traditional or progressive, Americana, old time or Roots, all are shared on the stage with one another. The festival showcases the past, present and future of this American-made music. Each year, lineups of national and regional performers bring over 40 hours of music to two stages, overseen by our two sound companies, GP Audio (Quiet Oaks Stage) and Upstage Productions (PA Wilds Stage). The event features a 3-day Lupus Auction benefiting the Lupus Foundation of PA. There is a full schedule of bluegrass workshops, children's activities, a beautiful vendor midway, and the Pennsylvania Heritage Songwriting Contest. The festival is both 4-wheeler and pet friendly.

Rustic camping is included with all full-festival tickets. Camping with hookups is an additional cost, run through Quiet Oaks Campground. If you are interested in reserving a site with electric and water hookups, contact Quiet Oaks at +1 (570) 923 2386 or visit their website.

The Crooked Line

State College, Pennsylvania

Crooked Line is a five-piece band that pushes the boundaries of American roots music. Armed with bluegrass instruments and a veneration for the vastness and grandiosity of traditional American music, this central Pennsylvania-based band has quickly become a crowd favorite in clubs and festivals around the region. The music is decidedly original, whether than band is performing their own compositions or rollicking through the guts of American sounds. Don't miss your next chance to catch the show live on stage, whether at a local club or your favorite Pennsylvania music festival.

Big Virginia Sky

Norfolk, Virginia

Founded in December, 2012, Bluegrass-inspired Americana group Big Virginia Sky hit the stage without the slightest idea of what they'd gotten themselves into. Within minutes of their first show, the musical conversation was evident and the audience was on their feet throughout the performance. The group later agreed to perform regularly, traveling from all over the country to make their shows.

Featuring all-original music with cameos from Sierra Hull, Tim Crouch, Brandon Bostic, and Randy Kohrs, Big Virginia Sky has a mix of Americana music, traditional instrumental tunes, and takes light flavors of the Sam Bush Band, Tim O’Brien, some modern-day Country music, and of course, the Lonesome River Band. The group’s debut album was released after a successful crowdfunding campaign on September 30th, 2015.

The group showcases talents from singer-songwriter and lead vocalist, Cole Clark-sponsored guitar player, James Adkins, with an incredible addition from vocalist and mandolin player, Scott Slay (Award winning songwriter and Gulf Coast instrumentalist).
The Lazar brothers hold the group together as a tightly knit rhythm section, often described as a “heartbeat.” Bassist Steve Lazar has won several awards for his instrumental technique, and plays a variety of instruments to include keyboards and saxophone. Steve’s brother, percussionist Dale Lazar, has also dabbled in piano and a wide array of instruments; he plays a full drum kit during live shows.

These fellas make up four of five members and consider themselves incredibly lucky to have the talents of 5-time IBMA Banjo Player of the Year, Steve Martin Award recipient, and Virginia Music Hall of Famer, Sammy Shelor of Lonesome River Band. Sammy adds flare to the group that makes them stand out amongst other Americana bands.

The group has collective talent and a myriad of experience performing with and opening up for the likes of Glen Phillips, Alan Jackson, Katie Rogers, Edgar Meyer, The Band Perry, Taylor Hicks, Lonesome River Band, Sarah Jarosz, Sierra Hull, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers and more.

Boston, Massachusetts

Lonely Heartstring Band

Boston, Massachusetts

Nourished by deep roots in the expansive canon of traditional American music, The Lonely Heartstring Band embodies the modern American condition—an understanding and reverence for the past that informs a push into the future. This multi-talented group of musicians is a classic Bluegrass quintet—always far greater than the sum of its parts.

Combining soulful instrumental virtuosity with soaring three-part harmonies, their growing repertoire of original songs and compositions showcases not only their considerable talents, but a dedication to meaningful roots-conscious music.

Since their beginnings in 2012, The Lonely Heartstring Band has been on the rise and shows no sign of slowing down. With their 2015 IBMA Momentum Award and the imminent release of their debut full-length album on the legendary Rounder Records label, there is every reason to hope that they are at the front edge of a significant career.

Already they have generated a devoted following of music-lovers across North America, performing and headlining at major music festivals and historic venues from Western Canada to California, from Kentucky to New Hampshire. Whether it’s a festival stage, theatre, or intimate listening room, The Lonely Heartstring Band always delivers a dynamic, diverse, and heartfelt performance. Over the last three years of touring, the band has crafted shows that generate a genuine connection and bring crowds to their feet.

Eager to hit the road again in 2016, The Lonely Heartstring Band will continue bringing thoughtful, energetic, and memorable performances to audiences across the country and around the world.

Hickory Project

Wellsboro, Pennsylvania

What started as a routine experiment has turned into a revolutionary project, henceforth known as Hickory Project. Formed in 2001, the band features hard–driving traditional and original acoustic music deeply rooted in bluegrass. Hickory Project is a powerhouse of musical prowess with the expert licks of National Mandolin Champion Anthony Hannigan, Jillian Hannigan, Ed Lick, Steve Belcher, and Josh Sudigala.

Hickory Project is globally acclaimed. They have captivated audiences throughout Europe and the US, and even as far away as Australia. As musical ambassadors Hickory Project is taking their music worldwide.

Hickory Project has now produced 1 DVD and 7 CDs under their own label, Hickory Productions. Whether it is straight-forward traditional or a flare for the new realm in acoustic music, Hickory Project is a tour-de-force.

Mama Corn

Altoona, Pennsylvania

Mama Corn is one of the Keystone state’s hottest bluegrass bands today. Since their 2006 inception, this down home quartet has helped define the sound and resurgence of the Pennsylvania bluegrass scene. Featuring multi talented singer-songwriters; utilizing guitar, banjo, dobro, harmonica, mandolin, upright bass and tight vocal harmonies, the spirit of traditional roots music is echoed in their palette.

Mama Corn’s dynamic sound, undeniable chemistry and fun loving stage show has made them fan favorites everywhere they perform. Mama Corn recorded their debut studio album in 2011 which was met with rave reviews by such respected industry outlets as Bluegrass Preservation Society, Pennsylvania Musician Magazine and Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine. In the following years, Mama Corn’s notoriety grew and they found themselves performing some of the most prestigious venues in the country such as, The Historic Wheeling Jamboree, Grey Fox bluegrass festival and The Rochester International Jazz Festival, to name just a few.

In 2014, Mama Corn began production of their highly anticipated, second studio album which was released in June of 2014. That CD, entitled “Hold That Crooked Line”, has become a fan favorite and features a slew of Appalachian flavored, original compositions that showcase the bands penmanship, musical growth and signature vocal harmonies. More recently, Mama Corn has spent some time writing songs for their third studio record currently in pre-production. Mama Corn is proud of their studio recordings, but their true love is performing live on stage. With a full slate of shows and festivals spread through out the year, look for Mama Corn on an area stage near you!

Lonesome River Band

Meadows of Dan, Virginia

Lonesome River Band continues their reputation as one of the most respected names in bluegrass music. Led by five-time International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Banjo Player of the Year and Virginia Country Music Hall of Famer Sammy Shelor, the group holds a powerhouse line up of award-winning players including vocalist and songwriter Brandon Rickman on guitar, Mike Hartgrove on fiddle, Barry Reed on bass and Randy Jones on mandolin and vocals.

The band is celebrating their Billboard Top 10 Bluegrass Album, Turn On A Dime released on Mountain Home Music Company. The album certainly showcases Lonesome River Band at the top of their creative game. When masterful players and vocalists combine with top notch material and thoughtful arrangement, the result is a dynamic release. This long awaited project includes numerous chart songs including the hit “Her Love Won’t Turn On A Dime” that reached the #1 spot seven times on the Bluegrass Today Top 20.

Lonesome River Band’s enduring career includes 17 albums, three of which were released in 2012 in celebration of the group’s 30th anniversary. The band received the 2012 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Award for Instrumental Recorded Event of the Year for their song “Angeline the Baker” from their CHRONOLOGY Volume One album along with Sammy Shelor taking home his fifth win as the 2012 IBMA Banjo Performer of the Year. Lonesome River Band has received other awards from IBMA including Album of the Year, along with numerous awards from SPBGMA including being named Bluegrass Band of Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Song of the Year and Shelor as Banjo Player of the Year.

Sammy Shelor received the 2nd Annual Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass. In honor of this award, Lonesome River Band with special guest Steve Martin made an appearance and performed on the Late Show with David Letterman on November 11, 2011.

For over 30 years, Lonesome River Band continues set the standard in the bluegrass music world. Whether performing on the famous stage of the Grand Ole Opry or headlining major concert events & festivals, their loyal fans continue to support one of the most loved and most influential acts of our time.

Town Mountain

Asheville, NC

Raw, soulful, and with plenty of swagger, Town Mountain, based in Asheville, NC, released their 5th studio album, Southern Crescent, on April 1, 2016 on LoHi Records. Produced and engineered by GRAMMY winner Dirk Powell, Southern Crescent was recorded in Powell’s studio The Cypress House in south-central Louisiana town of Breaux Bridge. It was mixed by Mixed by Scott Vestal at Digital Underground in Greenbrier, TN. Since it’s release the band debuted on the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium stages bringing their sound to new audiences. The critically acclaimed album debuted at #4 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart while staying for ten weeks on the Americana Music Association’s radio chart’s Top 40.

No Depression’s Amos Perrine names Town Mountain as, “the most exciting bluegrass band to come along in a long time,” which is echoed by Music City Roots’ Craig Havighurst’s sentiments, “I’d put Town Mountain on my list of Five Bluegrass Bands You Must Know in 2016, because while the genre has forked and morphed in wonderful ways, these guys from Asheville have more Flatt & Scruggs and more Jimmy Martin in their sound than any young band I can think of. And when they do nod to other influences, they tend to be from parallels to the early bluegrass era, like Chuck Berry and Carl Perkins for example.”

Up for a 2016 Emerging Artist Award with IBMA and the 2013 winners of IBMA Momentum Awards for Performance Band and Vocalist of the Year (Robert Greer), Town Mountain has earned raves for their hard-driving sound, their in-house songwriting and the honky-tonk edge that permeates their exhilarating live performances. With an insatiable musical hunger, the members of Town Mountain are Robert Greer on vocals and guitar, Jesse Langlais on banjo and vocals, Phil Barker on mandolin and vocals, Jack Devereux on fiddle, and Adam Chaffins on bass. Please note Bobby Britt (fiddle) and Nick DiSebastian (bass) perform on the album.

Charm City Junction

Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore-based roots group Charm City Junction puts a new spin on old-timey music, carrying the torch of fast-picking bluegrass and toe-tapping Celtic music. Featuring fiddle, clawhammer banjo, the button accordion and upright bass, this quartet isn’t afraid to take roots music to new places — but always with an eye on tradition.From dance inducing Old Time rhythms and foot stomping Irish melodies to hard-driving Bluegrass, Baltimore-based Charm City Junction creates a fresh soundscape that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats wondering where they'll go next. The band is comprised of four of the most talented and promising young acoustic roots musicians in the country: Patrick McAvinue on fiddle, Brad Kolodner on clawhammer banjo, Sean McComiskey on button accordion and Alex Lacquement on upright bass. Drawing from separate musical backgrounds, the four members have found a common ground on which to develop their unique approach. Patrick McAvinue, one of the most in-demand and highly respected bluegrass fiddlers in the country, takes charge with his virtuosic, powerful and musical approach to the fiddle. Clawhammer banjo wizard Brad Kolodner adds his playful, driving, melodic and groovy Old-Time touch. Sean McComiskey, an incredibly talented Irish button accordion player, soars through the tunes and fills the gaps with his soulful playing. The versatile bassist Alex Lacquement drives the train, locking everything together with his commanding and tasteful choices. Charm City Junction embodies the essence of what acoustic roots music is all about, a shared and burning passion for blazing new trails while respecting the tradition. They are torchbearers with a clear message that the future of acoustic music is in good hands. They released their debut album on Patuxent Records in the fall of 2015. The album hit as high as #15 on the Folk-DJ Radio Charts.

Tussey Mountain Moonshiners

State College, Pennsylvania

Winners of the 2010 DelFest Bluegrass Band Competition, the Tussey Mountain Moonshiners hail from central PA, honoring the bluegrass traditions of the region. Their musical style ranges from traditional to Americana, with a dash of old time, and includes a captivating mix of unique, original songs. Their on-stage chemistry, amplified by the fun and strong connection they have with their audience, makes a Moonshiners show an experience not to be missed!

Bluegrass Unlimited said this about their debut album, I’m Going Home: “… the Tussey Mountain Moonshiners exude rich talent, enthusiasm, energy, and a wide knowledge of string music… Every single cut proves enjoyable ... With admirably equal skill, authenticity, and enthusiasm, the Tussey Mountain Moonshiners ... move from bluegrass to old-time to folk/Americana.”

Remington Ryde

McClure, Pennsylvania

Bluegrass crowd-pleasers, Remington Ryde has been together for 12 years. The band has been performing over 100 shows each year all throughout the United States and Canada. The group just released their sixth studio album "LIVE at the Bluegrass Ramble." The album features a one hour LIVE show from Bill Knowlton's 41st Bluegrass Ramble Picnic at Dyer Memorial Park in Little York, New York and is packed full of laughs and great traditional Bluegrass. Be sure to get your copy at the Remington Ryde store.

The band's distinct sound and old time flair can be attributed to the Bluegrass-rich area of Pennsylvania from which they hail and borrow their name. As the founding member and leader of Remington Ryde, Ryan Frankhouser's showmanship and chemistry with the audience turns fans into family. Billy Lee's humor, wit, and ever encouraging and uplifting approach to life clearly shows through on stage and off. Whether tears of laughter or of renewed joy, Billy Lee will touch your heart and leave you smiling every time. Add to that Richard's and Greg's unending love to get out and jam with anyone and everyone, to get to know and make friends of each and every one of you, and their overall down home good time boys love of bluegrass and bluegrass fans everywhere.

This combination makes Remington Ryde one of the most popular bands among bluegrass fans today. The group, led by Ryan Frankhouser on guitar and lead vocals also featuring Billy Lee Cox on banjo and bass vocals, Richard Egolf on bass and tenor vocals, and Greg Moore on fiddle and baritone vocals. View the band member biographies below. The band has a number of endorsements including Deering Banjo's, Black Diamond Strings, Super Sensitive Strings and N.S. Design Bass.

In 2007, Ryan took a leap of faith by starting the Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival at the age of 22 years old! The festival has become one of the fastest growing Bluegrass Festivals in the Country! Be sure to visit the Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival page for complete information.

The Midatlantic

Cape Fear, NC

The Midatlantic is a crew of eclectic musicians hailing from the Cape Fear coast of North Carolina. Setting sail with a crew of five, The Midatlantic is an exciting and refreshing brand of folk rock that excites audiences, leaving them wanting more. With a unique blend of progressive folk, americana, and bluegrass, and a hint of rock and jazz The Midatlantic produces their unique brand of modern folk rock. Don’t be fooled by the montage of acoustic instruments. They always deliver a wide range of dynamics, energy, and melodic harmonies through songs that are sincere to love, emotions, and life experiences. The Midatlantic takes great pride in their professional image and providing tasteful performances suitable for all age groups.

Coal Town Rounders

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Grafting their passion for Appalachian music and harmony singing to 21st century sensibilities, Northeast Pennsylvania-based quartet Coal Town Rounders are making their own moves in a genre that’s heavy on the tradition. With a foundational repertoire of bluegrass material you’d expect in a group twice their age, the band is poised to expand the reach and relevance of traditional music with their unique and hard-driving sound. Performing live around a single microphone lends a timeless quality to an old-time approach and showcases the human element of interaction inherent in acoustic music.

Following the release of ‘Numero Uno,’ their 2013 EP of traditional bluegrass tunes, the band has been well received by audiences throughout its home state of Pennsylvania, the northeast, and stretches of the midwest. They have shared the stage with a range of nationally touring acts including Emmy Lou Harris, Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Lumineers, The Grascals, and The Roys, and budding groups such as Cabinet, The Tillers, Wood & Wire, and The Barefoot Movement.

Coal Town Rounders are currently touring in support of their first full-length record, released in May of 2015. ‘How It Used To Be’ is a recording that attests to the enduring qualities which define the style of music known as bluegrass. It is evident that the band has absorbed the traditions inherent to this idiosyncratic American art form, and they have melded the genre’s vocabulary with the unique musical influences each member brings to the fold. Filtered through the artistic ethos of blue collar/post punk/DIY culture, it is a thoroughly modern record, imbued with studied bluegrass tradition.

Jakob's Ferry Stragglers

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers draw freely from old-time, bluegrass, country, jazz, rockabilly and swing styles to create their tight, high-energy string band music. Well-crafted original songs with emotional depth, masterful picking, and resonant vocal harmonies combine to forge new territories and a fresh take on Appalachian Americana music. Band members Gary Antol, Libby Eddy, Ed Croft and Joe Dep hail from the mountains and river towns of southwestern Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio.

Well known in the Americana music circuit throughout the mid-Atlantic region, The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers are big crowd-pleasers at The Great Blue Heron, The Three Rivers Arts Festival, Flood City Music Festival, Whiskey Rebellion Festival, Hickory Fest, Smoked Country Jam, Modesto Unplugged Music Festival, BayGrass Bluegrass, Sleepy Creek SpringDig, Laurel Hill Bluegrass Festival, and others. The band recently showcased their unique and innovative style of Appalachian roots music on a national tour, winning over new fans from Colorado to California, Arizona to Oklahoma. Their recording of “Mannington #9″, a searing tale of lives lost in a mining disaster written by West Virginia native Keith McManus, was included in Relix Magazine’s 2015 Summer CD Sampler.

The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers have opened for The Steeldrivers, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Black Lillies, Town Mountain, David Davis and The Warrior River Boys, Larry Keel, Jeff Austin, The Felice Brothers, Mike Compton, Grand Ol’ Ditch, The Rumpke Mountain Boys, The Hillbilly Gypsies, and Frank Solivan and The Dirty Kitchen.

Mountain Ride

Chambersburg, Pennsylvania

Mountain Ride was forged in the Great Valley of south-central Pennsylvania, for the simple need to play bluegrass. For these five friends, bluegrass is a necessity. Hailing from the new generation of bluegrassers, they tend to bring a unique flair to the traditional, and a progressive twist to the original.

Mountain Ride is composed of Eric Avey (guitar and vocals), Scott Matlock (fiddle and vocals), Corey Woodcock (banjo), Chance Hurley (mandolin), and Kate Avey (bass and vocals). With years of experience under their straps and strings, they have found something new, something that can only be described as Mountain Ride.

Herb & Hanson

Virginia

The acoustic duo, Herb & Hanson, features two songwriters expressing themselves with little more than a guitar, a mandolin, and their respective voices. Based out of Virginia, these restless ragamuffins have performed for audiences from Alaska’s gold mines to California’s grape-vines. They’ve wowed crowds from the Great Lakes to the Carolinas; from the dry deserts of the southwest to the wet wilderness of the north east. Their voracious work ethic noticeably shines through as their vocal harmonies intertwine with their adept instrumental work to bring their original compositions alive to any able listener.

Herb & Hanson perform songs written and composed from their unique life experiences and the myriad of musical inspirations from Americana’s oldest influences. Incorporating the blues styles of both the Piedmont and Delta regions, the lyrical themes of the Blue Ridge hills, and the Ragtime bounce of America’s oldest cities into their songwriting and live show, this prodigious pair seeks to relay these traditions in a contemporary way for their audience to ruminate.

Grain

Alexandria, Pennsylvania

Grain is a group of four friends who have been playing Appalachian Mountain music together for nearly a decade. Grain was formed in October 2010, but the band’s members are veterans of many other groups – including Appalachian Alchemy, Little Townes, The Rounders, Summer Reign, and Sweetwater, to name a few.

James Reams & the Barnstormers

London, Kentucky

A bluegrass band that was nominated by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2002 as Emerging Artist of the Year, James Reams & The Barnstormers provide a contemporary take on traditional bluegrass; blending it with innovation and vitality to create their own branch on the “roots” tree. Music critic Jerry Paul (former editor of Acoustica) described lead singer James Reams: “James is such an inspiration to watch. He truly feels his music, and sings from his very soul. If James is ever within your area, he is a ‘must see’ bluegrass icon.”

Raised in eastern Kentucky but now living in Phoenix, James Reams puts a layer of desert grit over a solid base of traditional bluegrass music. His band treads the terrain where bluegrass, old-time, classic country and rockabilly meet in the night to swap stories.

Lockport Drifters

Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

Elmira-Hope

Irvona, Pennsylvania

Elmira-Hope is a 16 year old singer/songwriter based in a small central Pennsylvanian town. While guitar and vocals are her main instruments she also is self-taught in banjo. She has strong roots in folk, americana, and bluegrass music. Her most influential musicians include Mumford and Sons, Gill Landry, Old Crow Medicine Show, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Dylan.

Recently in the late summer of 2015 Elmira-Hope had become a performing artist playing at various festivals. In the year of 2016 she hopes to dive right into her musical career with a debut EP and many shows at various venues and festivals.

Mean Mary

Nashville, Tennessee

Mean Mary (Mary James), a Florida native now based in Nashville, began life as a musical prodigy—could read music before she could read words and co-wrote songs at age five. By age seven she was proficient on the guitar, banjo, & violin, and entertained audiences across the US with her vocal and instrumental skills. Her life has been one long road show interspersed with TV, radio, and film.

To date she plays 11 instruments and is known for her alluring story songs, incredible instrumental speed, & rich voice that can travel from deep emotion to sparkling trills. She is also an award-winning book author, and the fun loving star of Nashville TV show, Never-Ending Street.

The Jersey Corn Pickers

South Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Jersey Corn Pickers are a Philly area band that plays original and traditional, high energy bluegrass and Americana music. Their style is informed by their love of old time, folk, rock, blues, traditional country, and all manner of American roots music.

They are busy performing at clubs, coffee houses, and festivals all over the northeast. They have two CDs out: Jersey Corn Pickers and Lessons Learned, which you can find on the Music page. They’ve opened for such notable musicians as Peter Rowan, Tony Trischka, Marah, and many more. They performed at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, World Cafe Live, and appeared on the Gene Shay Folk Show on WXPN in Philadelphia.

They love performing and it shows. Their live shows are rowdy affairs that will put a smile on your face!

Megan McGarry

Boston, Massachusetts

Nineteen year old, Megan McGarry, has earned the right to be called a distinguished, up-and-coming American Roots artist. She is an award winning multi-instrumentalist (fiddle, clawhammer-banjo, and guitar), a notable vocalist, and a very talented song-writer. These three elements are amalgamated to form her debut album, released July 2015.

Megan McGarry is currently enrolled in her third semester at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. There, she immerses herself in the study of American Roots Music. At Berklee, Megan has studied with acclaimed musicians such as Darol Anger, Bruce Molsky, Tony Triscka, Joe Walsh, Brittany Haas, Casey Driesson and other distinguished professors and Berklee affiliated professional musicians. Megan is majoring in Music Education with plans to teach elementary music over seas. She has excelled in all of her endeavors at Berklee, qualifying for the Dean’s list in both of the semesters she has completed this far in her career.

Along with Megan’s debut solo CD, she is credited on two other works including The Dusty Trout Band's "Fly Reel" released in 2013, and the soon to be released “Ludlow” by The Young Folk.

Megan has gained many awards over her young career. She’s a two time Pennsylvania State Old-Time Fiddle Champion in the junior division. She finished in the top three at the “Distinguished Young Women of Pennsylvania” competition, where she won scholarship based on her talent, public speaking and interview skills. Throughout high school, Megan competed at district, regional, and all-state levels for choir and orchestra. Recently, Megan was chosen by the Berklee College of Music to receive an Urban Service Award for volunteering to perform for patient in the cancer center at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Megan has had many exciting moments in her young career. Megan, with her father Chris, has had the opportunity to perform throughout Pennsylvania at many local, regional, and state organizational events, festivals, and fairs. In 2011, they were invited by former Gov. Corbett to perform at a private dinner party for a hundred of his top supporters, held inside the Gettysburg Military Museum. She's performed and taught fiddle workshops at Smoked Country Jam Bluegrass Festival, Crooks Farm Old Time Festival, the People's Choice Arts Festival in Boalsburg, PA, Elliott Park Art Festival, and more. Summer of 2015, Megan was chosen to represent Berklee and the American Roots department as a member of The Berklee All-Stars Band to perform at Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival.

Throughout the rest of 2015, Megan will be focusing on her studies at
Berklee College of Music, learning and writing new music.

Summer of 2016 will bring Megan home to Pennsylvania,
where she and her father will be touring to promote her new CD.

Mason Porter

West Chester, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s Mason Porter is a perfect example of a successful 21st century bluegrass-folk-rock band, a close-knit group of buds hitting traditional folk-bluegrass buttons while also tossing in a hit of country rock energy and power for good measure.” Steve Houk, Mid-life Rocker. It’s that positive energy that connects them with their audience every time. They play a style of American music that is unique in many ways; traveling in the borderlands of folk-rock, bluegrass and pop. They have the ability to combine the earthy, Appalachian instruments with a more edgy urban appeal. With a danceable vibe, an energetic live show and fresh approach to improvisation, Mason Porter and its growing community finds itself at home everywhere they go.

Mason Porter’s 2015 release Key to the Skyway is their best effort yet. “…a leap forward in both confidence and sound for the band.” Says Mike Mannon of No Depression. A soundtrack for the days where you blow off work, turn up the radio and just head out on whatever open road you can find. A collection of fun songs delivered with a lively energy and finished in a summery sheen. The album shows the evolution of Mason Porter from its folk trio roots to a bigger and more refined sound. The success of the album has brought them national press and an increased touring schedule.

2015 also showed the band’s willingness to work hard and follow their own vision. With the help of their community, they were able to host their very first music and camping festival, the Midnight Mountain Music Show, which was met with great success and is set to become an annual September event. In addition the band led some very successful tributes, including several sold-out “Workingman’s Dead/American Beauty” shows and a much talked about “Folk Roots of the Grateful Dead” set that landed them two main stage sets at the Philadelphia Folk Festival.

Mason Porter’s 2014 release, Home For The Harvest, was met with great enthusiasm and helped usher in the next wave of growth for the band. The album, which drew comparisons to the Grateful Dead’s American Beauty and Neil Young’s Harvest, received significant airplay from The Coffee House channel at SiriusXM as well as national AAA and Folk DJ support. Fred Knittel of WXPN’s Folkadelphia program says: “What continues to make West Chester, PA’s Mason Porter a force to be reckoned with in the Americana and roots community, especially regionally, is the intimacy that they bring to each song. Whether it is in live performance, on record (like their latest Home For The Harvest). ” And he also notes the band’s “uncanny ability to draw the listener in and keep them close. I can only think that this magical power is the result of a strong and long-standing chemistry between the members.”

Mason Porter got its start in late 2006 informally as friends playing folk songs together at parties in West Chester, PA. The band released their debut EP Mason Porter (2008), resulting in immediate praise. Les McIntyre of Bluegrass Unlimited wrote of this inaugural recording, “The music of Mason Porter could be best described as alternative bluegrass…in this debut recording, the eclectic trio show musical prowess that is difficult to overlook.” Following up with full length CDs Thunder In The Valley (2009) and a collection of traditional folk and covers, Story Of the Rifle (2011), the band became a fixture on the regional scene. Through the process of writing, recording and constant gigging, the band developed its original sound blending folk, bluegrass, blues, country and rock influences into the unique personality that is Mason Porter.

OctoPladd

Boston, Massachusetts

OctoPladd is a band that plays music. Their music is melodious and heartfelt while also funky and occasionally goofy, not unlike their name (a complicated story they’d have to tell you in person). United by their roots in bluegrass, they draw on myriad influences to produce Appalachian melodies tempered with chromaticism and groove. The quartet combines the sweeping lines of Julian Pinelli’s violin with the snap and groove of mandolinist Ethan Setiawan. Sam Leslie adds tasteful guitar sauce, supported by the powerhouse Noah Harrington on bass. These four talented musicians met in Boston’s thriving roots music scene. The quartet’s hope is to create music with an electric edge to its acousticality.

Colebrook Road

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Drive through central Pennsylvania’s countryside and you’re bound to end up crossing one of the many thoroughfares called Colebrook Road. Take a listen to the sound of hard-driving original bluegrass and you’ll find a band that shares the same name comprised of members from vast musical backgrounds. The band started as a bunch of guys living in the Harrisburg, PA area connected by a love of acoustic music. Since then, the group has changed and expanded through many shows across the mid-atlantic region and the release of its first full length studio album featuring 10 original songs.

With a sound that combines traditional straight-drive bluegrass with modern tonalities, technical playing, tight vocal harmonies, and a unique voice based on large amounts of original composition, Colebrook Road brings interest and excitement to their music and their audience.

Doug Forshey

Nashville, Tennessee

Doug Forshey is a Nashville based Singer/Songwriter. His songs range from Traditional Country to Hard Rock. His solo material is Folk Rock/Americana.
His first solo album, "Crazy Gravity', recorded at Studio 515 in Nashville, was released on Rev Records in 2006.

Doug's songs have been recorded by many independent artists including Aldo Cabrese, Smokin' Joe And The Wildhorse Band, the Contemporary Christian group Faith, to name a few. His song "Rest For My Body" was recorded by Canadian Country Artist, Quentin Reddy, and went to #66 on the Canadian Country Chart.

Doug is also the Lead Singer/Rhythm Guitarist of The Dudes Terrific, a Nashville based rock band he co-founded with his longtime friend/co-writer, Matt Goedken. The Dudes Terrific have released two albums, "Born Yesterday" in 2008 and "TDT II" in 2010.

Nightflyer

Southwestern Ohio

The band's lead singer and guitarist Richard Propps consistently receives rave reviews on his powerful and often awe-inspiring vocals and excellent guitar playing. Superb mandolinist and occasional lead vocalist Rick Hayes, spent four years touring nationally with the Gibson Brothers, and recived a coveted Highlight Review from Bluegrass Unlimited on his solo CD "Fly By Night." Tony Kakaris is the rock solid heartbeat of Nightflyer on the standup bass, lending baritone as well as lead vocals to the group. Tim Jackson adds spice to the mix with his fiery dobro performances, and an occasional lead and baritone. Rounding out the sound is Ronnie Stewart, contributing killer banjo, and sweet lyrical tenor and lead vocals. Each individual is outstanding on their own, but this is truly a band that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Wood & Wire

Austin, Texas

As its name suggests, Wood & Wire is a young acoustic band with a love for pure music played well. In 2011, the group exploded onto Austin’s bluegrass and old-time-music scene while quickly gaining a national fan base through appearances at notable festivals and venues like Old Settlers Music Festival, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Austin City Limits Music Festival, and the IBMA World of Bluegrass. It was icing on the cake, then, when they also garnered a last-minute appearance onstage at The Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

In 2013, Wood & Wire opened for Yonder Mountain String Band and released a self-titled debut album to much acclaim. In 2014, the group continued gaining momentum, touring heavily and working on a follow-up album set for release February 3, 2015.

A culmination of distinct musical personalities, the band’s influences range from Led Zeppelin to Doc Watson – and everything in between. “We’re from all over the country,” says Bassist Dom Fisher, describing the resulting sound as “strongly rooted in traditional bluegrass, with elements of progressive grass such as modern harmony and song forms.”

Fisher, a New York native with a degree in Jazz Studies (Double Bass) from Ithaca College, formed the group along with Guitarist Tony Kamel, whose rich, textured vocals provide lead for the group. In 2012, the two added banjoist Trevor Smith, which, says Fisher, “really put us on a different level.”

Smith, who had been playing music with Fisher, Kamel and other local musicians at a weekly bluegrass jam at Austin’s Flipnotics, actually grew up playing classical piano. After attending his first bluegrass festival, he picked up his main instrument, the banjo. “I was perplexed by the sound of it, and I had to figure it out,” says Smith, who later added guitar and mandolin to his talents.

Wood & Wire rounded out the quartet last May with the addition of mandolinist Billy Bright, a veteran player who has worked with legendary artists Peter Rowan, Tony Rice, and Vassar Clements. A Berklee College of Music attendee, Bright adorns the music with his unique style bred from influences like Matt Mundy, David Grisman, Mike Compton and “every other mandolinist I've ever seen or heard.”

For its second album, The Coast, Wood & Wire returned to J Studios in Nashville to work with Grammy-nominated engineer and producer, Erick Jaskowiak. “He is an amazing guy, chock full of positive vibes and so good at what he does,” says Kamel. A coming-of-age collection of original songs with a coastal theme, the album builds on the band’s debut, entertaining fans while drawing back the curtain on members’ substantial musical chops.

In the studio and on the stage, Wood & Wire continues to share its passion for pure music through heartfelt performances across the country. For tour stops and 2015 booking availability, visit woodandwireband.com

Hillbilly Gypsies

Morgantown, West Virginia

Hailing from the beautiful Mountain State of West Virginia, The Hillbilly Gypsies have been making and performing their own brand of old time bluegrass and original mountain music for over a decade! Formed in 2001 from a chance meeting at the now infamous Wednesday night old time jam in Morgantown, WV; The Hillbilly Gypsies have been pickin' n’ grinnin' and entertaining their loyal fans ever since.

The band is best known for their high-energy live performances and have become a crowd favorite at major festivals, fairs and concert venues all across the mid-Atlantic region and abroad. They perform in the old fashioned style, playing around a single vintage ribbon microphone. This "Old Timey" approach adds an authentic high-energy barn party atmosphere to their show. Watching the whole band work around the mic is like taking a trip back in time. It'll sure make you want to get up and dance!

..and don't let the flash of their lively stage performance and choreography fool ya, these folks are all highly skilled musicians and seasoned entertainers! Their lightning fast award-winning picking skills and musical arrangements mixed with natural comedic wit and high lonesome mountain vocal harmonies are sure to catch your ear right away. Combine that with a knack for original songwriting and a strong passion for old time and traditional music and this makes for an all-around authentic and exciting musical experience that you won't soon forget. One listen and you'll know that you are getting the real deal! The Gypsies are more than a band; they are a tight knit family, mindful of tradition but bold explorers of new and authentic styles of acoustic music and entertainment!

Jim Gaudet & The Railroad Boys

Albany, New York

Jim Gaudet and The Railroad Boys make one feel as if they're traveling in time, maybe back to Louisiana in 1963. Mel Guarino of The Bluebillies said, “There is no other band that I know that can sound so modern and yet so classic and nostalgic. It's at once, "Old Timey" and “Timeless”, echoing the sound and feel of maybe Hank Williams or the Stanley Brothers, with a "rock-a-billy" edge.”

Grey Fox producer, Mary Tyler Doub, one of the leading movers and shakers in the world of bluegrass music, stated “What spoke to me first were Jim’s songs and his voice. He didn’t sound like other singers and I like that uniqueness very much. His lyrics and melodies struck me as fresh and powerful. I wanted those songs and that energy and that sound at Grey Fox.” Their talent was obvious, their personalities disarming and it was clear they were a perfect fit for the festival. Our friendship was instant and I felt a level of trust that you rarely find in this business. These guys are the real deal.”

"Jim Gaudet and The Railroad Boys specialize in a Cajun flavored bluegrass often containing wickedly funny, all original, satirical lyrics. They are consistently entertaining and have attracted an avid, loyal audience. Don't miss an opportunity to see this band which offers a change of pace and a lot of up tempo fun." --Ted Lehmann, Nominated annually for the IBMA Print/Media Person of The Year.

WAMU, Washington, DC, Bluegrass Country host Katy Daley said, “Loved having you on the show, please plan on coming back with your new CD. You are an excellent songwriter and if l lived in the Albany area, l would be a regular at your gigs." Their performance so impressed the NPR station's producers that it was chosen to be rebroadcast on the popular show, “Editor's Picks”.

Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys have played four International Bluegrass Music Association festivals that have a history of being voted festivals of the year: Wintergrass, Seattle (WA); Joe Val Boston (MA); Podunk Hartford (CT), Grey Fox in Oak Hill (NY); and were selected to fill a coveted spot in IBMA's 2013 Bluegrass Ramble in Raleigh, NC. This past spring the band had the honor of appearing on the Music City Roots Live from The Factory PBS broadcast and are looking forward to a return date soon. The band is also anxiously awaiting a feature profile article in an upcoming issue of the highly respected “Bluegrass Unlimited” magazine.

Bronze Alley Boxer

Central Pennsylvania

We are a local band based out of central Pennsylvania, comprised of Dan Murray on Guitar and Vocals, Ben Griswald on Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar and Vocals, Watson Thompson on Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar and Vocals, and Derrick Cunningham on Bass and Vocals.

Open Mic

Wednesday, June 15th 7:00-10:00PM

Rules:

Open Mic starts at 7:00pm and will run until 10:00pm. Performers will take the stage every 15 minutes. There will be room for
12 performers.

We would like to have members of organized bands perform, but those who play in weekly jam sessions will be considered.

This is a single mic setup and will be all acoustic. Music must be bluegrass or a bluegrass-related genre.

Artists will have 15 minutes to perform. There will be little time to setup any equipment brought with performers.

Sign ups will be open at the Quiet Oaks stage starting at 6:00 pm. Sign ups will close when 12 performers have been scheduled.

If you are late for your scheduled time, do not expect to participate unless there are available time slots. You will need to be
prompt and ready to go for your set.

Respect your fellow performer. Please avoid disrupting others during their presentations. This includes loud talking, picking just off
stage or anything else that would disrupt their performance.

Please remember that Smoked Country Jam is a family event. Refrain from using profanity, adult content, or “Rated-R” materials.
Inappropriate performances will be cut short without warning and noted for future reference.

The host of the event is in charge of the open mic night. If special rules or adjustments need to be made, the host makes the call.

Cheer for your fellow artists.

Have a great time and bring friends to the stage.

Smoked Country Jam's goal is to foster friendly festival spirit so we hope everyone has tons of fun!

Volunteer Information

If you are interested in volunteering at Smoked Country Jam, please email Teresa at teresa@smokedcountryjam.com, including your name, phone number, email address, and specify whether you are interested in Ground Control, Environmental, Stage Hand or Parking.

Thank you for your interest!

Vendor Information

Performer Information

Smoked Country Jam is a family-friendly festival where people of all-ages can enjoy high quality live performances. We are committed to finding and presenting well-established and up-and-coming performers.

Here is what we are looking for in the bands we hire:

We feature music from the bluegrass tree. This includes, folk, roots, Americana and old time genres. We are not looking for jam bands.

Informative and useful social media pages, with links to your music that represent what you will do live.

The ability to link Smoked Country Jam & our online ticketing service to your main website and also to some music samples.

A professional color band photo that is suitable for paper print (300 dpi at a minimum of 6”).

A volume of original material (100 minutes divided into two sets).

Bands that have a following and are willing to promote Smoked Country Jam from your end.

In order to prevent miscommunication and to get all details in writing no phone calls will be taken.

Teresa's Story

In November of 2002 my wife, Teresa, was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus, a chronic disease of the autoimmune system. After enduring months of pain we finally had an answer. She had suffered from painfully swollen joints and fatigue. Teresa also had a blotchy skin condition that extended from her waist to her feet, a white raw tongue, and cuts that wouldn't heal. I had to help her out of bed, down stairs, and up from her chair, because the pain was so intense.

We had gone to our family doctor who suspected Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Thrush, and a myriad of other conditions whose symptoms were all very similar. Then one morning I heard Teresa crying in the bedroom, and ran in to see what might be wrong. Her fingers had swollen so dramatically during the night that she couldn't get the rings off her fingers! After several hours and lots of cold water and soap, she finally got them off.
But that was just the tip of the iceberg. Several days later she awoke with her feet and ankles so swollen it looked like the skin would burst. In tears, and in fear, we went to the emergency room of our local hospital, where they proceeded to take several vials of blood to test for Meningitis, Lyme disease, and Hepatitis. No clearly defined condition showed up.

In desperation we returned to our family doctor and Teresa asked to be referred to a Rheumatologist, since what she suffered from most were swollen and aching joints throughout her body. The specialist did a complete blood count (CBC) to see if the condition may be related to Rheumatoid Arthritis, Microscopic Polyarteritis, or Lupus. The results came back as Lupus with slight overlap of Microscopic Polyarteritis.

On November 8, 2002, Teresa began taking Prednisone for Lupus. On November 12, 2002, feeling as good as she had in months, Teresa went for tests to determine if the Lupus had affected any organs. The next day, Friday the 13th, Teresa received a call at work from her doctor. The Lupus had caused an inflammation in her kidneys. She was admitted to the hospital that night, and began a regimen of intravenously administered Prednisone.

Two days later she had a kidney biopsy that showed the extent of her kidney inflammation. The diagnosis was followed by six months of chemotherapy, which along with six other medications succeeded in getting the disease in remission. Teresa went through a yearlong maintenance program with a medicine (Cellcept) used originally to prevent organ rejection in transplant patients. Remission is a very good thing. The hope is that the disease doesn't flare up.

Lupus has no cure and the disease often spawns other medical conditions affecting other organs. In the last several years Teresa has been diagnosed and treated for Hashimoto’s Disease, a condition that will eventually destroy her thyroid, and Vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels in her legs. She continues to take many medications, several of which will be taken for the rest of her life. Since last year Teresa has had Bronchitis six times, more than likely due to a compromised immune system, and recently has now been diagnosed with asthma. Links are very evident on the Lupus chain.

There is a real need for people to become aware of this mysterious disease. Smoked Country Jam, our beloved bluegrass music festival, is the vehicle through which we hope to accomplish this. We are hoping everyone has the time of his or her life at Smoked Country Jam, and we are able to shed some light on this serious disease. Right now we can control the disease, let's do all we can to find a cure.

Smoked Country Jam will continue to raise monies for the Lupus Foundation of PA, through our 3-day Lupus Auction. We will do what we can to raise awareness of Lupus and help do all that can be done to find a cure for this disease. We appreciate all the support we have received from everyone through the years and hope the music we have brought to the festival has enriched your lives. Together we have made a difference.

* Single Day campers must be off the grounds by 10:00AM the following day.

* All festival tickets include rustic camping.

Pennsylania Heritage Songwriting Contest

The Pennsylvania Heritage Songwriting Contest (PHSC) has been created to celebrate the State of Pennsylvania, its people, places, and history in song.

It is intended to provide a venue for amateur songwriters to display their art while fostering appreciation and study of Pennsylvania Heritage. The songs must have a PA namesake, theme or reference. If you are interested in participating, download the printable rules and entry form below!

Benefiting the Lupus Foundation of PA

$19,475.00

raised for a cure

Teresa's Story

Since Teresa Kodish was diagnosed with Lupus in 2002, Smoked Country Jam has been committed to making a difference. Through our three day Lupus Auction, we have raised over $19,000 for the Lupus Foundation of Pennsylvania, a non-profit organization that is fighting to find a cure once and for all.

$19,475.00

raised toward a cure

Join the team

Smoked Country Jam is looking for volunteers to join our festival team! For only 4 hours of work each day, you can enjoy the rest of the festival. Volunteers must be 18, previous experience is not required but is a definite plus. Pre-festival, post-festival and festival hours are available. Volunteer positions include Ground Control, Environmental, Stage Hands, and parking. Free field camping and two meals are included for each day worked.